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Five pets, a wild bird found dead near rubbish tip in Udon Thani (nationthailand.com)

Five pets, a wild bird found dead near rubbish tip in Udon Thani

NationalDec 03. 2020

By THE NATION

The bodies of four dogs, a cat and a wild bird were found near a rubbish bin in Udon Thani’s Muang district on Wednesday morning.The dogs and cat were pets, and initial inspection showed they had been poisoned. It is believed that the killer must have mixed poison in food and left it near the bin.Locals told police that a man, with his face covered by a helmet, was seen riding a motorbike around in their community on Tuesday. Residents also said that they heard the sound of dogs howling for several hours and now believe that those were howls of pain.

Wang Khuntiam, 75, the owner of one of the dead dogs and the cat, said something similar had happened in his community last year.“A robber tried to break into a house in the midst of festivities, and four or five dogs were found dead. However, since nothing was stolen, we decided not to file a police case,” he said.

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Bangkok Bank opens online gold-trading platform (nationthailand.com)

Bangkok Bank opens online gold-trading platform

NationalDec 03. 2020

By THE NATION

Bangkok Bank (BBL) has joined hands with Hua Seng Heng Group to open an online gold trading service.The Hua Seng Heng USD Gold Trade platform enables customers to use their foreign currency deposit (FCD) accounts to trade in gold at the US dollar price, said BBL senior executive Chansak Fuangfu on Wednesday.“Those interested can open an FCD account at any of BBL’s 45 branches,” he said, adding that applications will be made available at more branches if the platform proves popular.Thanarat Pasawong, CEO of Huang Seng Heng Group, said that online gold trading had grown sharply by 6 per cent this year despite Covid-19’s impact on the global economy.The minimum trade on the platform was just $1, he said.Thanarat estimated the gold price at the end of this year will hit $1,800 per ounce, while the price in 2021 would move between $1,750 and $2,000 per ounce.

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Govt lines up 343 projects, ‘mini FTAs’ to boost exports next year (nationthailand.com)

Govt lines up 343 projects, ‘mini FTAs’ to boost exports next year

NationalDec 03. 2020

By The Nation

The Commerce Ministry will deploy a total of 343 projects to promote exports next year, Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Wednesday.

Of the total, 135 projects will operate in Thailand and 208 overseas. The latter include an online export negotiation and promotion of Thai products via platforms including Amazon, Lotte, Tmall, BigBasket and Kha-Leang.

Jurin said Thailand will also accelerate negotiations on international trade agreements to lower barriers for Thai exports.

“The ministry has finished studying the Thailand-European Union Free Trade Agreement [FTA] and is still studying FTAs with the United Kingdom, Eurasia and Asean Free Trade Area [AFTA], as well as the Asean-Canada FTA,” he said.

Meanwhile, “mini FTAs” which the ministry and private sector will negotiate with provinces, states or cities will enable Thai entrepreneurs to expand trading and investment.

“We will sign mini FTA agreements with three cities, namely China’s Hainan, India’s Telangana and South Korea’s Gyeonggi soon.”

Jurin said the country’s export sector was recovering gradually after falling sharply in the second quarter due to the Covid-19 outbreak. He expected Thai exports to drop by 7 per cent this year but rise by 4 per cent next year.

“The ministry is cooperating with both government and private sectors to promote the exports,” he said, adding that Thailand was the first country in the world to introduce hybrid trading.

Meanwhile the ministry was working to solve problems of border trade and container shortages as soon as possible.

“The second Covid-19 outbreak caused border trade with Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in October to contract 40 per cent, 21 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively,” he added.

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TAT launches ‘ASQ Paradise’ website for foreigners wanting to visit Thailand (nationthailand.com)

TAT launches ‘ASQ Paradise’ website for foreigners wanting to visit Thailand

NationalDec 02. 2020TAT launches ‘ASQ Paradise’ website 

By The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined up with real-estate firm Locanation and the ASQ Thailand Club to develop the ASQ Tourist Information Centre.

Though the Covid-19 situation in Thailand is improving, and the government is taking steps to promote tourism and rebuild the economy, it is still mandatory for visitors to spend 14 days at an alternative state quarantine (ASQ) site.

Since information about travelling to Thailand in the Covid era has been scarce and confusing, TAT hopes the new information centre will help answer all queries potential visitors may have on alternative state quarantine facilities for foreigners.

The information is available at asq.locanation.com.

It has taken TAT eight weeks to create this platform after it received many complaints and emails asking for information. The website, titled “ASQ Paradise”, allows tourists to book their stay at one of the 115 ASQ hotels. Accommodation is offered in hotels ranging from three to five stars, with stays costing anything from Bt27,000 to Bt220,000 per person.

TAT is also offering activities, albeit virtual, to keep people engaged during their quarantine period, such as the TAT Department Store, which sells anything from luxury helicopter trips to Otop souvenirs.

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New community-based route launched for post-Covid tourism (nationthailand.com)

New community-based route launched for post-Covid tourism

NationalDec 02. 2020

By The Nation

The government has unveiled a model tour for its community-based tourism policy tapping Thailand’s many canals and waterways. The model route is located in Ratchaburi, 80 kilometres west of Bangkok.

It consists of four historical and agricultural sites – Chotikaram Temple, Jek Huat’s house, Lao Tak Floating Market (Damnoen Saduak), and Mae Thongyip Agricultural Garden.

Tourism and Sports Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn said the community-based tours were being developed by the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) and the Interior Ministry.

The domestic travel route model has been running for two years, said Chumphon Musikanon, deputy director of DASTA.

Last week, DASTA organised a tour of Damnoen Saduak floating market and other Ratchaburi attractions for foreign residents and media members. Chumphon said the community-based model will help support tourism in the “new normal” era, building confidence in the safety of Thai travel among local and overseas visitors .

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PM orders natural borders to be strictly monitored to prevent illegal entries (nationthailand.com)

PM orders natural borders to be strictly monitored to prevent illegal entries

NationalDec 02. 2020Prateep Keeratirekha 

By The Nation

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered related officials to stop people from using natural borders to sneak into the country, Prateep Keeratirekha, the PM’s deputy secretary on political affairs, said on Wednesday.

As for the Thai woman who tested positive after crossing over from Myanmar via Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, Prateep said tests on the more than 100 people the patient had come in contact with had come in negative.

“The government has also instructed village health volunteers to check whether anyone in their community had entered Thailand via illegal channels,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PM has instructed officials at alternative state quarantine sites nationwide to strictly perform their duties to gain public confidence.

He said Thailand has been recognised by many countries for its disease prevention efforts and is working on policies to help the economy recover.

“Hence, we call on people to have faith that the government will be able to curb the spread of Covid-19 effectively,” he said.